Kerch Historical and Archaeological Museum is one of the most ancient museums of Crimea. The earliest is the Paul Dubrucks collection, which was created in 1810. The opening of the museum took place in June 1826, after which it was called the Kerch Museum of Antiquities. Despite the difficult past, many exhibits are presented in the collections of the museum. In the photo, the Kerch Historical and Archaeological Museum of Kerch looks very beautiful.
City Kerch
Kerch is located in the eastern part of the Crimean Peninsula, on the Kerch Peninsula and on the shores of the Kerch Gulf. It is considered one of the oldest cities in the world. It is a hero city.
The climate on the peninsula is mild and dry. Very hot, arid summers and mild, moderately wet winters are characteristic. In general, climatic conditions are close to Mediterranean.
Vegetation is represented by steppe communities. It is widespread grape growing, fishing, tourism.
History of Kerch
Settlement of the territory came from ancient times. Already in prehistoric times, people lived there. On one of the city streets mammoth teeth were found. It is estimated that Neanderthals could live here 50-100 thousand years ago. Later sites of man are distinguished by their large number. On the site of present-day Kerch livestock breeders and farmers lived.
In the ancient period, the Greek city of Panticapaeum and a number of other Greek settlements were located there. Panticapaeum was the capital of the Bosporan state. The city was located at the intersection of major trade routes. In this era, winemaking was very common. Also grown wheat, caught and canned fish.
Museum foundation
Museum staff excavated and described necropolises and hillforts, and after 1830, barrows. Then the archive and library were formed. The building was designed by Odessa architect Toricelli. It was erected on Mount Mithridates and had the appearance of the Athenian temple of Hephaestion.
However, during the Crimean War, which lasted from 1853 to 1856, it was destroyed, and many exhibits were taken to the UK. Now they are stored in the British Museum.
In 1922, they tried to recreate the Kerch Museum, for which the mansion of P. Mesaksudi, which is located on ul. Sverdlova, 16. The adjoining building of the Alexander Nevsky Church in the late 30s. The 20th century passed into the jurisdiction of the Kerch Museum. But during the hostilities during World War II, more than half was destroyed.
In 1955, the church part of the building was restored. In 1991-93 restoration was carried out with the restoration of the church image. Then she switched to the Russian Orthodox Church, as a result of which the museum lost 64% of the premises.
Museum exhibits
Despite the complicated history, the collections have over 240 thousand different exhibits. There you can see amphorae, antique glass, coins, ceramics, terracotta and valuable relics. There are also sculptures, stone monuments, tombstones, plates, monuments of epigraphy, sculptures.
Collections of objects are distributed between the seven halls and reflect the history of the Bosporus state from the ancient era to the Middle Ages.
The museum also has a scientific library, archive and workshops.
Kerch Historical and Archaeological Museum of Kerch - description
The museum is a beautiful building made in an original style.
The exposition of the first hall is dedicated to the history of primitive man. She talks about the era of the Bronze, Stone and Iron Ages. The oldest finds are stored here: stucco ceramics, bone products, stone and bronze tools. Also here you can see objects from the beginning of Greek colonization: lamps, amphoras, Phoenician glass, terracotta.
In the second hall there are exhibits of the period of antiquity. Here you can see the iron weapons of labor of the era when winemaking, plow farming and fishing flourished. Among the exhibits are stone graders, fishing hooks, sinkers, needles for making nets, the remains of vines and berries, barley grains, grain storage containers.
Such objects as lead tablets with manuscripts, bronze items, theater masks, terracotta, a pipe, a flute, a part of the vessel with the image of Apollo and others will tell about the culture of those times.
At the end of the hall is a showcase with samples of painted dishes.
The third room houses exhibits from the beginning of our era, when the region came under the influence of the Roman Empire. Items of that era also have their own characteristic features. This period was characterized by a high military threat from the barbarian tribes, which was reflected in the appearance of things of those times.
The fourth hall contains exhibits on the theme of funeral rites, customs, cults and religions.
On the second floor there is an exposition dedicated to Catherine the Second. Among the exhibits are the Empress’s wooden bed, crystal and glass products, Turkish armor, ceramic and metal dishes of the Crimean Tatars.
Conclusion
Thus, the Kerch Historical and Archaeological Museum of Kerch is an interesting sightseeing and educational site that has survived a long and difficult history. Despite the looting, many exhibits were preserved and presented in the museum's collections. Another part of them is in the British Museum.